What needs checking before a spring is replaced?
The replacement must match the door's counterbalance requirements. A spring that looks similar is not enough. The technician needs to identify the door, spring arrangement and connected hardware, including any changes made since the original installation.
DASMA's spring-repair guidance specifically calls out altered doors, substituted parts, spring mounting, cables and bearings. This is why a proposal can legitimately include more than a spring, but each added item should have a stated reason. Ask the contractor to separate damaged or incompatible parts from optional upgrades.
Should one spring or both springs be replaced?
For a two-spring door, Clopay recommends replacing both together, even when only one has broken. That is manufacturer guidance, not a reason to assume every door has two springs or that every repair package is identical. Have the contractor identify your system and explain the recommendation for the installed equipment.
Replacing springs within the existing arrangement is also different from converting to another system. A conversion changes the project scope. Ask what problem the conversion solves, which supporting components change and whether a compatible replacement within the current system is an option.
Compare the specification, not just the spring price
A higher-cycle spring is a specification to compare, not a guaranteed number of years without another repair. DASMA explains that installation, handling, use and maintenance affect spring cycle life, and that spring life is not the same as the life of the complete door.
- Parts: which spring system, how many springs and what stated cycle specification are included?
- Additional work: which cables, bearings or mounting components need replacement, and why?
- Total scope: does the price include diagnosis, labor, removal and final door-balance and opener checks?
- Warranty: are parts and labor covered for the same period, and would a return visit carry a charge?
What if the vehicle is trapped in the garage?
Tell the person taking the Burlington service inquiry whether the door is closed, partly open or raised, and whether a vehicle is inside. Ask about actual appointment availability and how access will be handled. Do not accept a promise that the door can be moved safely before its condition is assessed.
Leave spring winding, cable work and connected brackets alone. Do not pull an emergency release on a raised or damaged door, and keep people away from beneath it. At completion, ask the technician to demonstrate appropriate operation and explain whether any unresolved fault means the door must stay out of use.